Container and cutter for rubber-dam sheets.



APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20, I916 Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

Emma

Elm 1mm AUGUSTUS H. JENSEN,

0F CHENEY, WASHINGTON.

CONTAINER AND CUTTER FOR RUBBER-DAM SHEETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 20, 1916. Serial No, 126,758.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS H. a citizen of the United States, residingat Cheney, in thecounty of Spokane and State of Vfashington, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Containers and Cut ters forRubber-Dam Sheets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a container and cutter for rubber dam sheetssuch as commonly employed by dentists in preparing rubber dams for usein the mouth of a patient during dental operations, the object of theinvention being to provide a container wherein the rubber sheet may beinelosed and protected in a sanitary manner from dust, dirt, etc., andfrom which container the sheet may be-drawn therefrom for use asoccasion requires.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of aconstruction to admit of the withdrawal of the rubber sheet materialwith a proper degree of resistance, the projection of a smaller portionof the material therefrom that it may be easily gripped for drawing outfresh material as needed and the severance of the drawn out portion ofthe sheet in a ready and convenient manner.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings in which 1+ igure 1 is aperspective view dam sheet container my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the same. i

Fig. 3 is a detail section showing the 0011- struction of the hinge forthe fixed cutter lade.-

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a slightly modifiedconstruction.

eferring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, of thedrawing, wherein I have shown a container proper made wholly or largelyof wood, 1 designates the container which comprises an oblongrectangular box or receptacle open at the top, except as hereinafterdescribed. This receptacle is composed of a bottom 2 rear wall 3, endwalls 4 and a front wall 5, which may be united in any suitable manner.

The front wall 5, when the receptacle is made of Wood, is preferablymade thicker of a rubber and cutter embodying JnNsnN, f

and portions severed of the top portion of the container, the remainderof said top portion of the container being normally open and a lid ordoor 7 being provided for closing the same. lid or door 7 is hinged edgeto the wall 3 by means of hinges S, which are preferably of the springtype, whereby through the force of gravity and the action of the springhinges the door will be normally maintained in a closed position.

The sheet material 9 to be dispensed may be contained either loosely orin roll form within the container and is adapted to be drawn outwardbetween the inner edge of the ledge or shelf 6 and free edge of the dooror lid 7. For the purpose of facilitating the sliding withdrawal of thesheet material between such edges of the ledge and door, the said edgesare provided with lapping beveled surfaces 10 and 11, which, through thepressure of the door are designed to maintain a desired friction on thematerial to prevent it from being too freely drawn outward, while at thesame time permitting of its withdrawal without strain. These beveledoverlappingabutment edges also serve to diminish the liability of theentrance of dust and dirt, whereby the sheet of material will beinclosed and protected in a sanitary contamination. The surface 10 ispreferably comparatively broad the sheet material may have acomparatively large bearing surface of a smooth character to restagainst in the act of withdrawal, thus effectually preventing injurythereto.

The upper forward portion of the wall 5 is formed with a recess 12receiving a fixed cutter blade or plate 13, which lies flush with theouter surface of the wall 5 and with the upper surface of the ledge 6,and which is secured in position by screws or other suitable fastenings14. This cutter blade or plate is adapted for cooperation with avertically movable cutter blade or plate 15 which is movable downwardlyover the outer surface of the blade 18 to sever the drawn out portion 9of the rubber dam sheet from the top of the sheet, leaving just a smallportion of the sheet projecting over upon the that it may be easily andconveniently grasped when it is desired to withdraw a fresh portion ofthe sheet for severance.

The blade or plate 15 is provided at one Patented Sept. J11, 1917.

so that the blades 13 and 15 extending preferably 7 the full length ofthe container, so that a sheet of any wldth which can be accommodatedwithin the container may be out.

-At its free end the blade 15 is provided on its outer side with afinger piece 19 and on its inner side with a stop member 20, whichlatter is adapted to engage and clamp the portion of the sheet lying onthe ledge (3 on the downward movement of the cutter to its fullestdegree and to limit such movement of the cutter.

It will thus be seen that normally a supply ofrubber dam sheet materialmay be kept within the container and protected, and'that when it isdesired to use a portion of the sheet a proper amount may be drawn outand severed from the sheet. Also it will be seen that while the door 7will allow complete access to the interior of the container, such doorwill normally close the container and clamp the sheet so that theprojecting marginal portion of the sheet will be held againstdisplacement. Also it will be seen that the beveled surfaces of thecontainer and door will allow the sheet to be readily and convenientlywithdrawn without injury.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing. I have shown a construction of container 1which, is made of. sheet metal, the walls 2:, 3?, 4 and 5 being formedand united in any desired manner. Vith this construction the edge of thewall 5 is projected inwardly in the form of a flange 6 forming theledge, while the door 7 may be made of sheet metal or other suitablematerial. With this construc tion also the front wall 5 is offsetinwardly to form the receiving recess for the cutter blade or plate 13while the free edges,

of the flange 6 and door 7 are properly bent or coiled to provide thelapping friction and clamping surfaces 10* and 11. The cutting mechanismwith this construction is the same as that previously described.

I claim:

1, A containerfor rubber dam sheets comprising a receptacle having aledge over which the free edge of the sheet is to be:

drawn, a closure for the receptacle having an edge portion arranged toengage the material resting on said ledge, and a cutting device forsevering a portion of the ma terial drawn outward over the ledge, saidreceptacle being recessed along its front wall and having a deeperrecess at one end communicating with the recess first mentioned, a hingemember having an offset portion positioned within the recess, saidcutting device also including an offset portion constituting a hingeknuckle, and means for connecting the hinge member for positioning thecutting device to sever the sheet along a line coincident with one upperedge of the receptacle at a point spaced from the point at which thesheet emerges.

2. A container for rubber dam sheets comprising a receptacle open at thetop including a front wall having a portion projecting inwardly at theopen top to form a ledge over which a portion of the sheet may bewithdrawn, said ledge being provided with a beveled surface at itsinneredge, and a door closing the top of the casing and having its free edgeprovided with a beveled surface adapted to engage the: portion of thematerial resting-against the beveled surface of the lee ge, meanspositioned'to cut the sheet along a line lying substantially in theplane of the top and the outer portion, of the front wall. a

3". A container-for rubber-clam sheets com. prising a receptacleprovided with an opening in its gins, ofsaid; opening and providedVii/h". a recess adjacent to said ledge, closing the. opening in: thereceptacle,v said cover andledgebeing provided with-beveled lappingfriction surfaces, a stationary cute ter member; fitted insaid'ireeessand having an edge portion lying 'flu'shiwith the-ledge, and amovablezcutter member mounted" for cooperation with, said stationaryvcutter member and spaced from the beveledilap ping friction surfacesleaving a: portion of the sheet projecting above thetop after theCtlficllEtS been made. a

top, andhaving one of its walls. formed with a ledge along one of the1nar-- a cover for AUGUSTUS H. JENSEN.v

Gopiesof this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each, byaddressingothe Gommissioner of v:Iaten'tr,

washington Dnc,

